Stress Control

10 Tips for Stress Releases For Everyday Living

Tip #1:
Take 40 deep slow diaphragmatic breaths each day. (Spread evenly throughout your day, not all at once at the end of the day or you might hyperventilate.) You can benefit from associating the deep breaths with some common work occurrence such as the telephone ringing or clock watching.

Tip #2:
Use regular relaxation periods for work breaks. Try fifteen to twenty minute periods of (hopefully) undisturbed time away from phone and/or family. Commit to using this for four to six weeks to begin to see the benefits.

Tip #3:
Get regular exercise. Aerobic activities such as walking, jogging, swimming, biking, etc. for 20 minutes 3 times per week is minimum. Recommended is 30 minutes or more, 4-6 times per week. But do not hurt yourself!

Tip #4:
Eat sensibly. Avoid caffeine. Do not cope with stress by using alcohol or drugs. If you are stressed out, caffeine, etc. is like throwing gasoline on a fire to put it out!

Tip #5:
Get focused on new directions and regular planning. Give yourself positive options if you feel trapped. Plan for growth and balance in all aspects of your life, not just work and finance (family/relationships, spiritual interests, creativity, vacations, hobbies, etc.)

Tip #6:
Use and develop your humor! Positive attitudes really help difficulties, when viewed as opportunities for growth and proving your abilities, are less harmful and nurture your immune system. But do not bury your anger, fear or sadness look at it, identify where it’s coming from, address it and let it go.

Tip #7:
Protect yourself from negative co-workers and relationships! Do not get caught up in other peoples’ negative thinking or let them rip off your peace of mind and positive energy. Take good care of yourself and don’t drop to their energy level. Keep yours and just maybe theirs will rise also.

Tip #8:
Stay in control!!! You cannot control all the people and situations that happen around you… but you can control the way you respond!

Tip #9:
Give sincere compliments freely and smile! Be positive and let it shine on all that surround you. It will come back to you many times over.

Tip #10:
Learn to really listen! It is the best communication technique that you can develop! There are plenty of talkers but never enough listeners.

Pryor Associates Executive Search, founded in 1969 by Patricia Pryor, has been named one of the Top-25 regional recruiting firms according to Dun & Bradstreet. All of our Executive Recruiters have personally worked in the same insurance/financial service specialty in which they place candidates, which is why our motto is “It Takes One … To Know One.”